EV Chronicles #54 - Good Bye Tesla

I have decided to sell the Tesla and replace it with .... Well, you'll have to wait or cheat and jump down later in this post. Why am I making the change? Well, Elon and his toxic political influence and well, his Nazi leaning behavior is certainly a part of my decision. But I also looked at the financials of my options and there were a few vehicles that I could get into which would be definite quality upgrades over my 2021 Model Y and would end up costing about the same as the Tesla cost me today, so the time seems right.

I'll try to not allow this post to get to political and for it to go off the rails. I have decided to put most of my political energy into a political rant at the end for those that are inclined to see some of the deeper drivers behind my growing distrust of Musk and not wanting to have anything to do with the Tesla brand any longer.

With that said, it is fair to say my next vehicle is definitely NOT a Tesla, if that wasn't obvious from my opening statements. I am certainly concerned that the resale value of my Tesla is about to tank. I estimate that the value of the Model Y is at least $10k more now than it might be 3 years from now when I was originally planning to replace it. I also can't ignore that fact that Insurance coverage of Tesla vehicles are starting climb across the country as a result of the vandalism being carried out by Anti-Elon people (which by the way has to be the dumbest thing on the planet given most Tesla owners likely are Anti-Elon too).

Many people in the market for an EV need to also take into account that the current administration in the US wants to completely eliminate the EV sales incentives that have gone into effect over the last 4 years. As a result, now might be the best time, maybe the last time to buy an EV and get the EV Tax Credit of $7500 off of the cost of eligible EVs, for eligible buyers.

Because of good fortune, hard work, and many blessings, we don't happen to be eligible for the EV tax credit, but the tax law was written with a loophole. Leased vehicles can get the tax credit off the upfront purchase price of eligible vehicles. In some cases, manufacturers who don't have eligible vehicles are still putting purchase incentives on their vehicles to complete with those that do. In addition, that good fortune gives us the ability to make sure this next vehicle is as good or better than the new 2025 Model Y (which is a great vehicle by the way if I could ignore the political baggage). Here are my requirements:

• SUV about the size of the Model Y, bigger is OK

• AWD

• Capable of >200kw charging speeds with pre-conditioning - bonus points given to vehicle with charge port on the back driver's side of the vehicle.

• Access to Tesla Charging network (I know, but there is no way around this right now if you want a good EV ownership experience on road trips)

• Heated Seats / Steering wheel

• ADAS - Advanced Driver Assist Systems (lane centering and adaptive cruise at a minimum)

• Close to 300 miles of range

• Available NOW, or at least easily obtainable in a couple of weeks.

• Direct to consumer sales if possible - Rivian, Polestar, and Tesla basically for now.

• Capable of over the air updates

The Contenders:

• Rivan R1S - nearest location to take a test drive is 2 hours from home (showstopper). It is also a bit larger than I really want/need (R2 will likely be a much better vehicle for us when it is released in the next year or two)

• Polestar 3 - Honestly, wasn't on my radar until I was doing some research. It is basically a sporty Volvo. Fantastic vehicle but expensive.

  
  

The Pretenders (good choices but need to work with a dealer, not happening, at least not this go around)

• Cadillac Lyriq (Luxury 2 AWD) - A fantastic looking vehicle available now at a reasonable price. Unfortunately, I have had issues with past GM products so I am a bit hesitant to go this route, but it is hard not to give this vehicle serious consideration. Video review here

• Volvo C40 Recharge - LOVE this one. Would be my top choice to buy from a dealer, but you can't find them anywhere, so until I can get a test drive and for it to actually be buyable, this one has to stay on the short list. Definitely a strong candidate to eventually replace Susan's CX-5 in a few years.

• Genesis GV70 (electric) - also cannot find anywhere

• GM Platform EVs - GM Ultiam Platform is being used for all of the following vehicles. So fundamentally, many of these EVs are very similar, with different styling, different tuning

  • Cadillac Lyriq or Optiq (upscale Chevy Blazer or Equinox)

  • Acura ZDX - basically a GM car (built on a GM EV platform) right now - review here

    • See also Honda Prologue - a nice car but lacks excitement - review here

• Audi, BMW, Lexus - just not feeling it on any of these really. The Audi might be a great choice honestly, but would just rather keep my Tesla... or buy a new 2025 Model Y that is being reported as a HUGE improvement in driving comfort.

The Decision:

When I started to look about 2 weeks ago, Rivian was offering an amazing Lease deal on their Standard R1S models that made them very affordable. I was very close to Leasing one without ever driving one just based on the many videos I have seen online and written reviews of them, but I didn't. A test drive is a must so I thought I would just see if we happen to travel near a test drive site that we would go for a test drive. I am looking at their website right now and no longer see that deal even mentioned, so I don't even know what it was really. In the meanwhile, I kept looking at other options. I wasn't seriously giving the Polestar 3 much of a thought because of cost. Their models nicely equipped start in the low $80's. So then.... I stopped. I was just going to live with the Model Y for a bit longer.

I didn't realize that we have Polestar sales center about 2 miles from my office, so I decided to stop in at lunchtime one day and take one for a test drive anyway. At the same time, I saw that they were offering an incredible lease deal... $15,000 off the purchase price (double EV tax credit incentive) plus another $5,000 for Tesla owners. Removing $20,000 from the purchase price of the vehicle reduces the monthly lease payment by over $600, which makes this vehicle very comparable to my Model Y monthly costs. By my preliminary calculations, this car would cost us about $100 more per month over the next 3 years, but doing so, moves us up into a much nicer vehicle AND gets us out from under Musk.

So I took the Polestar 3 for a test drive and just fell in love. In many ways, it is just like Tesla in terms of the minimalistic approach with almost no buttons and everything done through the screen between the driver and passenger. But it is a luxury vehicle in every way that Tesla is not. The ride is amazing, enabled by its adaptive air suspension. The seats, front and back, might be the most comfortable seats I have every experienced in a vehicle, and the active sound cancellation from the amazing sound system makes the ride absolutely silent. No road noise or rumble at all. Because the Polestar 3 is built on a Volvo platform (EX90) that is a 3 row SUV, but itself is not a 3 row SUV, it has a ton of space in the second row.

Of course, the deciding factor would be the opinion (and comfort) of my wife. I really didn't know what she would think honestly, so we went back and took her out for a drive. Because we are such different sizes, sometimes a vehicle that fits me well doesn't fit her well. I think it is fair to say she too absolutely loved it as well. Honestly, for the slight increase in cost to us, this vehicle really needed to be head and shoulders above my Model Y, and it delivers on so many levels.

My only concerns/reservations is that this is still a fairly new vehicle. There have been a few reports of people having some weird issues with their vehicles that have turned them into bricks. I believe it is a SW issue that they are working out with their over the air updates. It is hard to tell, but I think this is rare and may have been addressed in a recent SW update. Other vehicle issues seem to mostly be reported by Europeans who get a version built in China. Most people have also not been a fan of the display and its SW organization, but that too is improving with each SW update from what I have read. I also believe that the interaction with the SW is mostly minimal after you setup the car to your preferences (and it saves those settings for up to like 6 drivers I believe).

So here it is.... almost. The one below has the performance package with the yellow brakes that mine will not have. Midnight Blue with Black interior.

So I started this post a couple of weeks ago. It is now April 10th and I took delivery of my Polestar 3 this morning. I really haven't had a chance to fully explore ALL the options and settings. We drove home from King of Prussia in it today and it was a fantastic ride home. I spent some time setting up Susan as a second driver and that was honestly a bit of a frustrating experience, but I think I got it configured at least to the point up to where she can get in and set the seat and mirrors. Many more Polestar Posts will be coming for sure. New energy / content to write about. I'll likely be looking at the charging curve on CCS and Tesla charging units, driving efficiency, home charging, and many more things.

My Political RANT:

If you are paying attention and doing the hard work of constantly consuming news and media from many sources, fact-checking all those sources, then you are probably exhausted by the constant attack on our democracy that is happening by the current administration and its oligarch supporters (like Elon Musk). If you still support this administration, then you are not fulfilling your responsibility to be an INFORMED voter and defender of our democracy. Your continued ignorance is dangerous. That is my viewpoint and opinion.

Don't start with the "you have DT Derangement Syndrome" because that is just lazy BS that shows you have zero clue what is happening in this country. Our system of "checks and balances" is completely dead in the water. REP in Congress have rolled over and will let Trump do whatever he wants to do to become a dictator. The Supreme Court is showing a tiny little backbone, but so far, they have done nothing to stop Trump either.

The on again/off again/on again/off again tariffs are just nuts, but at least the administration (sort of) has the authority to do that after they declared a bogus emergency was ongoing. Its all the other crap that is flat out illegal that they are doing that requires everyone to wake up and fight against. This includes:

• Deportations without due process (call it what it is...human traffic-ing or kidnapping... you pick)...this should terrify every American. He is setting a precedent here where in the dark of night, he can command ICE to grab anyone, even a US Citizen, and have them on foreign soil before morning, and there is nothing stopping him.

• DOGE access to government systems containing personal information and classified information. DOGE isn't even an official organization. DOGE is only an advisory committee. WHY DO THEY NEED DIRECT ACCESS?

• Firing Federal employees for "cause" when there was zero evidence that "cause" was applicable. There are LAWS that prevent this from happening (at least legally). Anyone fired for "cause" has a significantly harder time getting employed by other companies.

• Selling Teslas from the White House lawn (total conflict of interest and against the law)

• Destruction of EPA

• Destruction of Department of Education

• Destruction of Department of Health - we now have a F-ing measles problem because idiots in the government Health department are now supporting anti-vax initiatives.

• The general blocking of funding of programs and departments set by Congressional Funding / Law which the Executive branch has zero, legal authority to change or stop.

• Threatening Canada to make them a US state

• Threatening to take over Greenland

• Abandoning NATO

• Abandoning Ukraine

• Constant meetings with Putin without publishing a transcript of the discussions

• Constant defiance and ignoring of laws and court orders. Every instance should result in members of this administration being put in jail in contempt of that court...all the way up the chain of command, including the president if necessary. If a member of the military carries out an order that is illegal, that individual gets a court marshal. Same should happen with those breaking laws in this administration at the direction of its "leader".

The amazing thing is that a whole bunch of people on "the right" have been fighting their right to keep their guns in the event that a tyrannical government would rise up, that they could fight back...and here we are, and the gun loving NRA and others are silent. Absent. No where to be found.

With that said, I have had ENOUGH with Elon and his BS. I sold all my stock in Tesla several months ago (too early to hit the peak, but I still made some money on it), and I don't want to own his vehicle. This is all in hopes that as many others are abandoning Tesla as well, that this will seriously hurt Elon Musk personally, eroding a huge chunk of his wealth. It is his wealth that gives him power and influence and if that is gone, his ability to participate in the destruction of our democracy is diminished.

No need to rehash the countless illegal actions he has pushed when he hasn't even been an appointed to an official US Governmental position. My biggest issue with Musk and Trump right now is their insistence that Musk is just an advisor that has no power when talking to the courts, but when he and his cronies show up at various organizations to gain access, or they talk to the media, they say Musk is in charge. Then, those organizations are FORCED to give them access, at times with armed "forces" in tow... I guess when you bring guys with guns you suddenly ARE official? So, I have also had enough with owning a vehicle that was built by a company that for now at least, he is still in charge of. About three weeks ago, I decided that it was time to move on. If Tesla sheds Elon Musk, then my tune about Tesla will definitely change. They make some of the best cars on the planet, and certainly some of the best EVs out there (not you Cybertruck).

Side rant on the Cybertruck - I love it. Period. But after a year, it seems like it has been an absolute train wreck. Maybe the issues are mostly on the Tri-motor, who knows. Way too many issues are happening to owners which tells me that Tesla rushed this thing to market. Even though it was delayed about 5 years, it should have been delayed even further. Check out this video for more details - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rULfW5E499I